Scary and on Sale: Big Lots

September 7, 2010 by Alexa 1 Comment

A couple of weeks ago before my trip, I went to Big Lots. As I do with any store this season, I perused the Halloween aisle. They had the normal dish towels and candy types of things, but the main draw at Big Lots was their great selection of Halloween lighting finds!

My favorite thing was probably this simple and spooky light up sign. I haven’t noticed the vampire angle played up a whole lot this year in Halloween stuff I’ve seen, but it is in a few items here and there.

I’m all about misty/fog stuff. I own a fog machine. I bought it 3 years ago. I have yet to use it. That’s kinda sad, huh? I just haven’t had a blow out party in a while!

This haunted hedge would be cute to spook trick or treaters.

Strobe lights are really big this year. Not just the one pulsating light. I’ve seen several different devices, from mini to strands to pulsating eye vampires that are featuring strobe lights this year.

Here’s another example of spooky strobe light décor!

Blood and glitter is swell, but bloody glitter? That’s the swellest!

And that football fan in your life might like this play on the classic jack-o-lantern!

Hope you enjoyed these finds! I’ll be back throughout the season from more finds around various stores. Hopefully it might save you a trip or perhaps make one for you!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Over 35 Swell Halloween Projects Compiled!

August 4, 2010 by Alexa 21 Comments

Over the past few years, I’ve created a lot of crafts, especially Halloween crafts! There’s something about Halloween and the fact that it’s a bit funky/silly/spooky and subversive that I connect with. I love that it is a time that people get to express themselves in a different way and just have fun!

I wanted to compile all these projects for you to enjoy over the Halloween season. I know I’m already starting to think about my Halloween craft projects and I’m betting you are too, so enjoy these ideas and check back to my blog for more inspiration and ideas in the next couple of months leading up to Halloween!

Dollar Store Candle Charger

Snooki Halloween Pumpkin

Twilight Cupcake Stand

Candy Corn Cupcake Stand

Cupcake Wrapper Wreath

Upcycled Starbucks Vase

Simple Halloween Button Earrings

Decopauged Halloween Tissue Ornaments

Deviled Egg Halloween Costume

Green Slime Lantern

Easy Halloween Ribbon/Button Bracelet

Spooktastic Halloween Pennants

Simple Halloween Button Earrings

Decopauged Halloween Tissue Ornaments

Deviled Egg Halloween Costume

Glitter Boo Banner

Mini Grim Reaper Glitter Trinket Box

Bewitching Plaque

Halloween Pennant Cupcake Picks

The Easiest Halloween T-shirt you’ll ever make

A Halloween Costume Masterpiece

Easy Stripe and Polka Dot Pumpkins

Dark Shadows Photo Frame

Vintage Halloween Character Ornaments

Halloween Sticker Crafts

Frightfully Funky Feather Wreath

Polaroid Pumpkins

Breast Cancer Awareness Pumpkins

Halloween Swirly Doily Purse

Halloween Spooky Swirl Vase

Fun and Funky Halloween Doodle/Star Earrings

Veggie Head Halloween Party Idea

Halloween Composition Notebook

Diva Witch Canvas

Ribbon Fascinators

Glow in the Dork Wall Hanging

Bloody Pumpkins

Cute CD Cupcake Stand

Halloween Cupcake Picks

More projects coming soon!

Terrorific Tuesday 2009 Week 2

October 12, 2009 by Alexa Leave a Comment

Another week! Another helping of Halloween goodness. Check out what the fabulous crafters from all walks of life are up to this Terrorific Tuesday for the second week of October!

This little light
Light up the night with this cute pumpkin votive holder from Kat the Fearless Crafter.

Sugar Skull Bracelet & Bats in the Belfry Choker
Candace is having way too much fun with shrink plastc! Check out these fun and charming crafts on the Spirit Clay blog.

Dollar Tree Decorated Lights Tutorial
Come and decorate some Dollar Tree Skulls with Crafterella, don’t forget your sharpie markers!

The Impatient Crafter for iLoveToCreate
Whip up a Halloween Invitation that’s a real ‘hoot’ with Madge in this project for iLoveToCreate!

Spooky Halloween Coasters
Cheryl Ball of Still Crafty After 50 shares some fun, funky, and spirited coasters!

Halloween Treat Bowl
Create a fun and festive treat dish with Inspired at Home!

Strands of Beads
Melissa creates a whimsical seasonal necklace based on the theme “pushing up daisies”.

Basic Black Box Meets Pumpkin Patch
Whip up Halloween favor boxes in minutes with brand new Sizzix ScoreBoard dies.

Mummy Mannequin
Create a mummy that will be a memorable accent at your Halloween party with Pattiewack!

Munchkin Mama’s Crispy Peanut Butter Balls
Munchkin Mama has a great recipe for no bake peanut butter balls that the whole family will want to make!

Witch Parking!!
Make a “Witch Parking” sign on the Mucky Finger’s blog!

Vintage-Inspired Halloween Tree Topper
Shannon shows off her new Halloween tree topper, inspired by vintage crepe paper crafts!

The Impatient Crafter
Make a whimsical and elegant Halloween necklace with Madge!

Jack-O-Lantern Waterfalls
Studio Mama shows you how to make some fun and festive earrings for the Halloween season.

Glow in the Dark Jewelry
Use glow in the dark polymer clay and rubber stamps to produce eerie Halloween jewerly.

Crafty Chica’s Paint Drip Pumpkin!
A loca idea on the fly turned out muy fantastico!

Free Printable Halloween Cup Sleeves
You’ll be a hit with these labels for hot beverages at your Halloween party.

Scarecow Sweatshirt
Sharron Westerfield shares a cute scarecrow sweatshirt she made from a fun downloadable pattern from Janome!

Halloween Ribbon Brooches and Fascinators
Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner whips some quick and cute Halloween accessories!

R.I.P. Skeleton in Coffin
Guarantee a spooktacular Halloween Party with a skeleton in a coffin treat filled centerpiece!

Happy October Kewpies
Find inspiration in this colorful and cute candy corn Kewpie photo from Boopsie Daisy!

If you would like to join in the fun next week, e-mail Alexa at swelldesigner@yahoo.com and put in your subject line “Terrorific Tuesday”. She’ll get you added to the group!

Vintage Halloween Character Ornaments

October 8, 2009 by Alexa 1 Comment

This is one of my top favorite crafts I’ve ever made. I guess I just like their little expressions and I love the idea of having a big black Halloween tree filled with fun little ornaments with personality like these. I’m going to share the very basics of creating them. To have to sort the colors out for each exactly is a little daunting of a task that frankly, I just don’t want to do. So use your own discretion and whip up your own in every color of the rainbow!

Vintage-Inspired Halloween Ornaments

What you need:
– Clear round glass ornaments
– Acrylic paint in a variety of colors
– Multi-Purpose sealer
– Craft Twinkles paint in a variety of colors
– Glow in the dark dimensional paint (optional)
– ornament hanger
– ribbon in various colors and textures
– styrofoam plate
– liner brush and flat brush
– paper towels
– plastic disposable drinking cup

What you do:
1. Bend the ornament cap ends upward and hang ornament on ornament stand over styrofoam plate.
2. In cup mix 2 parts Americana Acrylics with 1 part Multi-Purpose sealer in cup. This will make the paint run easier down the sides of ornament. Pour over ornament, making sure to cover entire ornament. The paint should drip down the sides and create a small dip at the very base of ornament. This is ok. Let dry completely (this could take several hours).
3. Using flat brush and liner brush and desired colors, paint on your face. FYI: Paint pots come in handy in this case, cause you get several colors to use for a lower price. I referred to vintage Halloween faces and made up my own. Let dry.
4. Once dry, take off ornament hanger and use flat brush to brush on a coat of Craft Twinkles. Craft Twinkles and the paint look great together when they are the same coordinating color, but mix it up. The little green goblin of mine was coated with Gold Craft Twinkles. Put back on ornament stand and let dry.
5. Optional step: Fill in teeth and eyes with Glow in the Dark Writer for a fun touch. Let dry.
6. Seal with Multi Purpose sealer and let dry.
7. Bend down ornament ends and add funky ribbon for hanging.

Helpful hint:
When storing, place wax paper around them. I had one of them rip off paint on the side. It actually looked kinda like a scar, so it gave it more character, but in most cases, you don’t want to ruin your ornament this way!

Additional ideas:
– Instead of faces, make polka dot and stripe ornaments
– Hang them from the ceiling or from a chandelier for instant décor!
– Place on top of varying height candlesticks for an instant display.
– Create other fun characters like zombies, witches, scarecrows, etc. Further embellish them with other craft supplies like rhinestones, felt, foam, or doll hair.You could even create character ones like the characters from Star Wars, Wizard of Oz, etc.

In honor of my 24 Halloween crafts in 24 hours, I’m giving away a Swell & Spooktastic Halloween prize pack. Click here to check it out and enter!

Check back next hour for another spooktastic Halloween craft!

Alexa

Spooktastic Halloween Pennants

October 8, 2009 by Alexa 1 Comment

Here’s a cute project I did a couple years back…I really had a blast making these and they are a quick evening craft. If you love making pennants and banners, you will love making these!

The idea for these was sparked after I saw these at a local bookstore…

I really loved them, but didn’t like the price tag ($8 each), so I got my crafty thinking cap on and decided to make my own (with my friend Lorilyn’s help). Here’s what I did!

Spooktastic Halloween pennants

What you need:
– wooden kabob sticks
– black cardstock
– white or cream cardstock (I used 8.5″ x 11″ size)
– scrap printer paper
– gold glitter
– 1″ wooden Woodsie balls
– Aleene’s Tacky Spray
– gold metallic paint
– decorative edged pinking shear-like paper scissors
– scissors or cutting knife (with mat)
– ruler
– pencil

What you do:
1. Find a fun and spooky font that looks gothic in nature (peruse www.dafont.com for ideas and free downloads).
2. Lay out spooky sayingsideways in word processing program or Photoshop and print out onto scrap sheet of printer paper. Use pencil and ruler to draw out pennant shape around text and cut out with scissors.
3. Print out onto saying onto white or cream cardstock. Lay down pattern you just created and lightly pencil around it.
4. Using Aleene’s Tacky Spray, spray pennant shape to black cardstock. Using cutting knife on mat, cut around pennant and leave approx. 3/4″ black border. Cut around border with paper pinking shear-like scissors. Set aside.
5. Paint balls and kabob sticks with gold metallic paint. While ball is wet, sprinkle on gold glitter to ball. Position balls on end of kabob sticks. If they don’t fit exactly, wrap end of kabob stick with a couple layers of tape and then securely place ball at end. Let paint dry completely.
6. Cut two slits with craft knife for kabob to poke through (refer to picture). Poke kabob through holes.

Here’s how I displayed my pennants a couple of years ago:

My friend Donna Bush made my pretty Pixie portrait (for visitors of my blog, Pixie is my cat).

In honor of my 24 Halloween crafts in 24 hours, I’m giving away a Swell & Spooktastic Halloween prize pack. Click here to check it out and enter!

Check back next hour for another spooktastic craft idea!

Alexa

24 Halloween Crafts in 24 Hours

September 21, 2009 by Alexa 9 Comments

Update: Click here for a compiled list hour by hour of all my Halloween crafts I presented on October 8.

If you tuned in last night on Inspired at Home Radio, you heard me talk about my attempt to do 24 Halloween crafts in 24 hours! If you didn’t tune in, you can hear my broadcast here. This is my official announcement here on my blog. Just to clarify, I’m not the first to attempt this feat… Crafty Chica did it back on Earth Day in April and I’ve also noticed 24 blog posts in 24 hours by Elsie Flannigan.

Anyway, my goal with this project is to share ideas and inspire you with quick and easy and very accessible projects. I’ll be covering everything from jewelry to decor ideas to fun food crafts to costumes! And all of the projects I make are something you can achieve in an evening, so it doesn’t mean you have to spend hours of labor slaving away on your crafts! I know very few of us have time to do that!

I also have a little favor of all my blog readers…if you have a blog, could you please share this little button in the side bar of your blog? Then link back here to this post so that others can be clued in about my 24 crafts in 24 hours?

I have some exciting photos, Halloween stuff, and things to share in the next few days, so please check back this week 🙂

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Queen of Halloween Open for business!

August 25, 2009 by Alexa 1 Comment

Well, I finally got some of my Halloween projects up on my Etsy shop and I’m a bit relieved. I have several more things to sell that I plan on adding to my shop, but I’ll get to that when I can do the photography and input the info. Having an Etsy shop isn’t a quick, simple easy thing to do…saying that, I don’t mean it is hard to run or anything…it’s something that takes time and attention and thought…everything from writing your description to the photographs to deciding your pricing.

My goal with my Etsy shop is more as a promotional tool in addition to my Terrorific Tuesdays and my 24 projects in 24 hours. I plan to sell a lot of the blog projects I make in my Etsy shop. If you are a crafter (and an perhaps an avid blogger who does projects), you have a lot of projects that you make that just sit in a baggie or bin waiting to be sold or given away. This is why I tend to sell earrings for only $5 a pair. If it’s sitting in my craft room gathering dust, I figure I might as well get a little something out of it…atleast my materials back. Some people feel differently about selling your work for so cheap, but putting them on Etsy doesn’t guarantee that it will sell and if you do plan on getting a higher price for them, you have to do the legwork to scout out locations to sell your work at. I don’t really have time for that.

Anyway, now that I’ve gone on a while, please hop on over and visit my shop and let me know your thoughts or maybe something you would like to see! Oh and stop back by from time to time…I’ll be updating this month and next. I’m going to add a little sidebar button eventually on my blog to make it accessible! Thanks so much in advance for stopping by!!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Terrorific Tuesday: Week 4

October 27, 2008 by Alexa 5 Comments

This month has flown by as fast as a witch on her broom! Can you believe we’ve completed 4 Terrorific Tuesdays?? Well, unfortunately this is the last Terrorific Tuesday of the year and I’d like to thank everyone who participated and shared their project or idea! Hopefully everyone had some fun and got some good traffic to their site…oh, and I also hope everyone came away from this with some positive inspiration and ideas up their sleeve for the few final days of the holiday and next year too! I wish that all my ideas could come to be by October 31st. I really do try my darndest, but I can’t do it all! I know you guys probably feel that way too! Doing a project a week is a LOT of work. All the designers and artists who participated know this…so for you non-artist or crafter types, this stuff doesn’t magically brew itself up! It’s the result of a dash of time and patience, a pinch of technical know-how, and a handful of creativity! Mix all that in with a whole lot of passion and you’ve got a wonderful brew!

So without further fanfare (and melted cheese), I present to you the fourth and final Terrorific Thursday!

Spooky Jewels Katie Hacker strings this red and black set using a Fresh resin pendant, polka dots, and metal skulls.

Fangtastic figurines Retta a.k.a. Attercat breaks out the polymer clay and whips up some glow-in-the-dark figurines.

Cool canister Serena the Crafty Mom revamps a bargain bin canister into an awesome Halloween decoration!

Gothic Pink Melissa J. Lee explores the spooky side of one of her favorite pastel colors.

“Eye”gor pin cushion Kiki of Kiki’s Craft World knits up this eye-catching pin cushion bracelet.

Stamped paper coffin Kate Pullen, the Rubber Stamping Guide at about.com folds and stamps up this little coffin box that Dracula would envy!

Fun party food ideas Amy at Living Locurto threw a Halloween party and came up with tons of great ideas for the food table including this adorable witch cake!

Double the goodness from Margot! The Impatient Crafter™’s final Terrorific Tuesday offering is a two part story of friendship, Goth Style. Here are links to see Morticia Invites Miss Havisham to Tea and The Invitation.

Spiderman pendant (but not the Spiderman you’re thinking) Kim Ripley a.k.a. Stoopidgerl pours up a glittery sweet skull and crossbones resin necklace.

Quick & easy polka dot treat cups Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner shows you how to make quick and easy Halloween treat cups sure to wow your guests!

3 brand new Halloween jewelry projects! Tammy Powley, the Jewelry Guide at About.com does an all-nighter (almost) as she pushes for a few more Halloween jewelry projects, including a super cool sterling silver spider, a glass framed mixed-media Halloween-themed pendant, and to top it off, a silver headless skeleton charm.

Fast & Fun Halloween Boa Sarah E. White, About.com’s Knitting Guide knits up this super cute boa perfect for those chilly fall nights!

Dia De Los Muertos Cigar Box Shrine Kathy Cano-Murillo a.k.a. The Crafty Chica honors the Day of the Dead with this beautiful shrine.

Happy Haunting Greeting Card Phyllis Dobbs treats us once again with this cute Halloween card, perfect for all your favorite goblins!

Gypsy Traditions Lorilyn Hurley of the Dream Life shares a touching story of her family’s love for Halloween & their passion for playing dress up at their annual party!

Boo Bucket Michelle McGee crafts up a spooky and scary bucket that will leave goose bumps on all your guests!

Vintage Postcard Banner
Kris Tuey aka: the Collage Contessa has made it official. Now you know exactly what time it is when you walk into her house. It’s HALLOWEEN time! This vintage project using fun Halloween postcards is so simple you can even entice the kids to help as well!

Fall Wall Hanging
Kim of Sew Sugary Sweet stitches this wonderful and whimsical wall hanging for her Fall Swap partner.

Honestly, this was a lot of work for me to do. I’m not sure at this point if I will do this again next year. I don’t want to say for sure yes, but it’s a possibility. I may try to do a big post around early December as well packed with great Christmas projects, but I’m afraid a project a week for December is just too much for me to coordinate. I’m sure you guys understand! If anyone has suggestions or would like to do the links and I do the graphic, I might be up for that. I just don’t think I can do it all. I’d be open to your suggestions…so e-mail me at swelldesigner@yahoo.com

And in closing, I say farewell to Terrorific Tuesdays and so does my precious little black cat Pixie!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Halloween Cupcake Pics/Picks

October 20, 2008 by Alexa 10 Comments

Well, this is my Monday evening post of for my Terrorific Tuesday. Yikes! I always cut it close.

This week, I wanted to create a craft that also helps you remember Halloween’s of the past. Do you have a favorite photo of you, your child, or your friends that you want to remember? Well, it’s super easy to visit memory lane and have a little fun waxing nostalgia with these cupcake picks! They’re super easy to make and something you can whip up in an hour…so let’s get started…

Halloween Cupcake Pics/Picks

Supplies
– Computer with Adobe Photoshop (or comparable photo imaging software)
– Various digital or scanned in photos
– Printer
– Scrapbook papers in various colors
– Glue stick
– tape
– toothpicks
– scissors or circle cutter

Instructions

1. Make a new 8.5″ x 11″ document, now open up your photos. Using circle selection tool, select desired area, and copy and paste into your 8.5″ x 11″ document.

2. Size your circular photos to be approximately 1.5″ in diameter. Once you have them laid up on your page, print out.

3. Using circle cutter or scissors, cut out around photos and set aside.

4. Make larger circles from your scrapbook paper. Now use glue stick to glue photos onto place.

5. Embellish or doodle on if desired.

6. Using tape, tape toothpick to back of image.

If you notice, I used pics of my friends, but I had to use one of me too…it’s not every day that I wear something like this. Ha ha.

Until next time Swellions!

Pumpkin Painting Idea Center

October 8, 2008 by Alexa 1 Comment

Hello all. I don’t don’t know if I officially told you about this, but I wanted to direct you over to my work’s web site to check out the bevy of fun and inspiring pumpkin painting ideas! This is a little graphic I whipped up for the home page. Our designers are super talented and come up with the best ideas for transforming painted pumpkins, so it’s never hard for me to create a graphic with a lot of personality!

The site features over 40 pumpkin painting ideas as well as other fun Halloween craft projects, from wearables to accessories to décor! There really is a style of pumpkin or craft for everyone! Also on the site is a section of tips and techniques, telling you exactly how to prepare your pumpkin. Other sections are “How to throw a pumpkin painting party” and “how to display your painted pumpkins”. The creative departments really worked hard to bring you these fun ideas, so check it out today!

Click here to check out the site! Please stop by and paint a spell, won’t you?

Do you have a fun painted pumpkin idea? I’d love to see it. Leave a link in my comment box and I’d love to share!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

The Swell Designer

Random musings of a crazy, crafty, pop culture-obsessed girl!

Scary and on Sale: Big Lots

Over 35 Swell Halloween Projects Compiled!

Terrorific Tuesday 2009 Week 2

Vintage Halloween Character Ornaments

Spooktastic Halloween Pennants

24 Halloween Crafts in 24 Hours

Queen of Halloween Open for business!

Terrorific Tuesday: Week 4

Halloween Cupcake Pics/Picks

Pumpkin Painting Idea Center